DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE!

That ever so important document--The Declaration of Independence that we celebrate every July 4th is what I will be writing about in the days ahead; that is, not exactly about what it says but about those who risked all they had to put their names on that document: "Their lives, there fortunes and their sacred honor."
The signers numbered 56 names with John Hancock signing first as Chairman of the committee.  The final name was not added until after August first.
Josiah Bartlett was born in Amesbury, Massachusetts in Nov. 1729.  He became a Physician and was appointed to lead the local Militia.  He was appointed delegate to the Continental Congress in 1775 and the first delegate to sign the document.  Dr. Bartlett died in 1795 at 66 years of age.
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William Whipple was born in Kittery, New Hampshire (now a portion of Maine) in 1730.  He went to sea as a lad and left the sea at the age of twenty Nine and joined his brother in the mercantile business in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  Ever a supporter of the colonies he was elected a member of the Provincial Congress of New Hampshire and chosen by that body as one of the Committee of Safety.  Whipple became a Brigadier General of New Hampshire troops and fought in several battles against the British.  He was present with General Gates in the capture of General Burgoyne and helped draw the terms of surrender.  Whipple died in 1785 at the age of 55 years....Medicineman!

A QUOTE FROM A PRESIDENT

No, it is not President Trump.  This comes from President Woodrow Wilson who led us into the "Great War", WWI.
Quote: "The purpose of a University should be to make a son as unlike his father as possible"! 
 Is there any doubt that Wilson was a progressive Democrat???Medicineman!

TRUMP---WHAT TO DO WITH THE GUY?

For the first time since Herbert Hoover the people have elected a president who is not a politician.  My word!  How could we have done such a thing?
President Trump is certainly not a politician.  If he were he would not be saying the things he says and he would not be tweeting the things he tweets and he would be treated much differently in the "Swamp".  And because he is not "one of them" they hate him.  The "professionals" will do anything and spend any amount of money to destroy him.  They are doing everything they can to destroy the office of the President of the United States.  Why?  BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE IT!....Medicineman! 

"UNNAMED SOURCES"

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"THE REALLY BIG SHEW"

The players are in place.  The curtain has gone up----"It's Show Time"!  Now those of us who choose to watch are seeing our Senators at work.  That is what they would like their constituents to believe at least.  The name of this play is "Delay, delay, all is delay"!
The Kavanaugh hearings, on the very first day of confirmation hearings, with a mountain of documents brought to the senate for members of the committee to look at, what happens?  Democrats want more documents.  I'm pretty sure no one has looked at those they already have.  But that does not make a difference because Trump's choice for the empty seat WILL be confirmed.  It is all part of "The Really Big Shew"!-----Medicineman!

THE SENATOR FROM ARIZONA

Senator John McCain has died!  Today, as I write this, it would be hard to find anyone in most countries who does know that the Senator has died.   As usual one does not speak badly of the dead and that certainly has been the case in the coverage of McCain's death, except some Nam Vets who slogged through the jungles and rivers of that country.  They point out that McCain, (1) graduated from the Academy 5th from last in his class.  (2) that he was not a very good pilot and crashed three planes in his career.  (3) That he got preferential treatment in "Hanoi Hilton" when the enemy found out who his father was, etc.  It is no secret that McCain and Trump, once friends, disliked each other so much that the President was not invited to the services,  and when the flag flying at half-mast over the White House was raised to full staff after the second day the outrage it caused was heard round the world.  To satisfy the outrage the flag was lowered once again over the White House and stayed there until the burial today, Sunday September 2, 2018.
In my twilight years I am constantly appalled at the lack of respect shown to the flag of our country.  It ranges from the highly visible foot ball games to any parade route.  Even those who put their flag up and forget it until it is a rag.  Let us take a look at the U.S. Flag Code: "The flag is flown at half-mast on the day of death and the day after for Members of Congress".  Members of Congress is defined as Congress and Senate.  Only a proclamation by the President can change that rule.  President Trump did that very thing!  Did you hear that mentioned by the Press? ...Medicineman!

"WAR MEMORIALS" and THE BELLS OF BALANGIGA!

There is an element in this country that has dedicated their lives to changing the history of this great country.  It is no secret that this small but noisy segment of our society has been successfully changing some of the events that shaped the United States of America.  Civil War statues and memorials moved or torn down after standing in place for 150 plus years.  The CSA Battle flag (mistakenly called the Confederate States Flag) is a prime example.  Even the Ten Commandments have been removed in some areas.
Now the controversy over "The Bells of Balangiga" has reared it's head again.  First of all, let me explain what these bells are and what they represent.  Two of  the bells are displayed near the entrance to Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming while one is with an Army unit in South Korea.
The United States acquired the Philippines in the Spanish American War of 1898.  In 1901 during the war between U.S. troops and Philippine insurgents 48 U.S. soldiers were killed in their sleep in a night attack.   In retaliation an attack on the town of Balangiga killed many Filipinos, men and women and children.  The troops took the bells from the local church as a war trophy.  Yes, it was an unfortunate episode in our history but, still history.
Several years ago this same attempt was made to give back the bells to that town in Samar, PI.  Replica bells were made and given while the original bells remain in U.S. hands.  I say keep the bells!....Medicineman!